Bridge score device



Dec. 17, 1963 J. A. FLOWER 3,114,552

BRIDGE SCORE DEVICE Filed April 13, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. .1 4 34 o qmmhum- EW I6 /3 FIG. 2. 37 M I 3 x :I /8 F76. a. w /4 i n /3 )25 J3 INVENTOR;

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Dec. 17, 1963 J. A. FLOWER BRIDGE SCORE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 13, 1962 INVENTOR. 4. :4ou/Ee;

l H I United States Patent Ofi 3,114,552 Patented Dec. 17., 1963 ice BRIDGE SCORE DEVICE Joseph Adrian Flower, Adrian Flower, 119 S. Kimball Ave., Caldwell, Idaho Filed Apr. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 187,378 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-148) This invention relates to score cards, and more particularly to an improved bridge score device for use in contract or duplicate bridge tournaments, or the like, where it is desirable to conceal the scores of other players while the score for one player is being Written down.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved bridge scoring device particularly adaptable for use in tournaments or in regular play and which is arranged so that the scores of other boards or hands will be concealed while the score of one board or hand is being written down, the device being relatively simple in construction, being easy to use, and being relatively compact in size.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved scoring device for keeping bridge scores, or the like, in regular or tournament play, the device being relatively inexpensive to fabricate, being neat in appearance, being durable in construction, and being provided with easily operated means for obscuring the scores of other players while one player is writing down his score on the device, thereby enabling the scoring device to be simultaneously used by a group of players, but being provided with means to maintain the previous scores hidden while a player is inscribing his score on the device.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an improved bridge scoring device constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown set up for use.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the bridge scoring device shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the device of FIG- UR-ES 1 to 4, shown in folded position.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, to a smaller scale, of the scoring device set up for use in inverted position, illustrating the manner in which the back of the scoring device is employed as a support for an instruction card.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a corner portion of the device of FIGURE 1, with parts in cross section and with other parts broken away to reveal structural details.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates an improved bridge scoring device constructed in accordance with the present invention. The device 11 comprises a relatively flat casing 12 of generally rectangular shape which is centrally hinged, namely, on a central vertical axis, as viewed in FIGURE 1, so that it is foldable to a book-like configuration, as illustrated in FIGURE 5. Thus, the casing 12 comprises a pair of rectangular segments 13 and 14 of relatively rigid material, such as rigid plastic material, or the like, the flat segment 13 being formed with a generally rectangular recess 15 which is open at one side thereof, and the flat segment 14 being formed with a transversely extending groove or recess 16 which registers with the recess 15, the recess 16 being open at the side edge 17 of segment 14. Secured on the segments 13 and 14 is a marginal frame member E18 of relatively flexible flat sheet plastic material, the frame member 18 being provided with the vertically extending intermediate portion 19' which overlies the adjacent margins of the segments 13 and 14 and which is secured thereto so as to define a central hinge. Thus, when the segments 13 and 14 are closed upon each other in the manner of a book, the intermediate flexible strip 19 is folded in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5 so that said strip serves the purpose of a hinge.

A conventional rectangular bridge score card 20 may be disposed in the rectangular recess defined by the registering recess portions 15 and 16, the card 20' being flexible so that when the segments 13 and 14 are folded upon each other in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5, the intermediate portion of the card 20 folds around the crease of the hinge strip 19, as is clearly illustrated in FIGURE 5.

The top and bottom marginal portions of segment 13 and the portions of frame element 118 secured thereon are formed with respective horizontally extending slots 21 and 22, and extending through said slots is a flexible band 24 of substantially opaque material, for example, substantially opaque flexible plastic sheet material, and secured to the ends of the band 24 is a horizontally extending elongated rectangular exhibiting frame 25. As shown in FIGURE 1, the card 20 is provided with the respective vertical rows of player designations 26 and 27, one vertical row being located on each side of the hinge plane of the casing assembly, namely, the vertical plane 1, the card being provided and the associated scoring spaces 31 will be visible in the frame member 25, the flexible band 24 being of sufiicient width and being located so as to hide the scoring spaces associated with the remaining player designations.

The casing segment 14 is provided with a similar pair of slots 34 and 35 receiving a flexible band 36 of substantially opaque material carrying an exhibiting frame 37 similar to the exhibiting frame 25 and arranged in substantially the same manner with respect to the player designations 27 and the scoring spaces associated therewith. As in the case of the exhibiting frame 25,

tally aligned therewith and associated therewith.

Each of the segments 13 and 14 is provided with a 33 of any suitable the inwardly extending retaining flange 41 which is offset from the back 38 of the segment 13 to receive marginal portions of the card 40, and the casing segment 14 is provided with the similarly As will be readily apparent, in using the device, a player may adjust the exhibiting frame 25 or 37 to the position wherein his designation will appear at the left portion of the exhibiting frame, enabling him to inscribe his scoring information on the scoring spaces adjacent his designation. While this is being done, the scores of the other players are hidden by the opaque bands 24 and 36. This enables a scorer or user to score the individual information in complete privacy so that opponents cannot see any of the scores which have been entered in the device. As shown in FIGURE 7, the columns to be covered by the opaque members 24 and 36 will overlie the spaces given the Contract and Declarer, Plus, Minus, and the Point Estimated information.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the back portions of the casing segments 13 and 14 are formed with shallow grooves or recesses 43 and 44 which slidably receive the back portions of the flexible bands 24 and 36 and which serve as guide grooves therefor and as means for retaining the bands in proper alignment.

While a specific embodiment of an improved bridge scoring device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A bridge score device comprising a flat casing having a recess adapted to receive a score card of the type having a vertical row of player designations with horizontally extending scoring spaces adjacent the respective player designations, said casing being formed with horizontally extending top and bottom slots, a flexible band of substantially opaque material engaged through said slots, and a horizontally extending elongated rectangular exhibiting frame secured to the ends of the band and supported thereby in overlying relation to said recess, said frame being of sufficient width and length to expose a single player designation and the scoring spaces associated therewith of a score card, said band being movable to vertically adjust the position of the exhibiting frame to selectively expose the different player designations while the band covers the scoring spaces associated with the other player designations.

2. A bridge score device comprising a flat casing formed with a rectangular card-receiving recess, a bridge score card positioned in said recess, said score card being of the type having a vertical row of player designations with horizontally extending scoring spaces adjacent the respective player designations, said casing being formed with horizontally extending top and bottom slots located adjacent the top and bottom margins of said recess, a flexible band of substantially opaque material engaged through said slots, and a horizontally extending elongated rectangular exhibiting frame secured to the ends of the band and supported thereby in overlying relation to said recess, said frame being of suflicient width and length to expose a single player designation and the scoring spaces associated therewith, said band being movable to vertically adjust the position of the exhibiting frame to selectively expose the different player designations while the band covers the scoring spaces associated with the other player designations.

3. A bridge scoring device comprising a fiat casing hinged vertically at its mid portion to fold in the manner of a book, said casing being formed with a rectangular card-receiving recess, a bridge score card positioned in said recess and having respective vertical rows of player designations and horizontal scoring spaces adjacent thereto, one vertical row being located on each side of the hinge plane of the casing, the casing having respective top and bottom pairs of horizontal blocks located adjacent the top and bottom marginal portions of the recess aligned with the scoring spaces, respective flexible bands of substantially opaque material engaged through the pairs of slots, and a horizontally extending elongated rectangular exhibiting frame secured to the ends of each band, the frame being of sufficient width and length to expose a single player designation in the associated scoring spaces, the bands being movable to vertically adjust the exhibiting frame so that only a single player designation and associated scoring spaces will be exposed at any one time by each exhibiting frame.

4. A bridge scoring device comprising a fiat casing hinged vertically at its mid portion to fold in the manner of a book, means on the casing defining a rectangular card-receiving recess opening at one side of the casing, a bridge score card positioned in said recess and having respective vertical rows of player designations and horizontal scoring spaces adjacent thereto, one vertical row being located on each side of the hinge plane of the casing, the casing having respective top and bottom pairs of horizontal slots located adjacent the top and bottom marginal portions of the recess aligned with the scoring spaces, respective flexible bands of substantially opaque material engaged through the pairs of slots, said casing being formed at its back portion with guide grooves slidably receiving the bands and holding them on the casing in positions overlying the scoring spaces, and a horizontally extending elongated rectangular exhibiting frame secured to the ends of each band, the frame being of sufficient Width and length to expose a single player designation and the associated scoring spaces, the bands being movable to vertically adjust the exhibiting frames so that only a single player designation and associated scoring spaces will be exposed at any one time by each exhibiting frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A BRIDGE SCORE DEVICE COMPRISING A FLAT CASING HAVING A RECESS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A SCORE CARD OF THE TYPE HAVING A VERTICAL ROW OF PLAYER DESIGNATIONS WITH HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING SCORING SPACES ADJACENT THE RESPECTIVE PLAYER DESIGNATIONS, SAID CASING BEING FORMED WITH HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING TOP AND BOTTOM SLOTS, A FLEXIBLE BAND OF SUBSTANTIALLY OPAQUE MATERIAL ENGAGED THROUGH SAID SLOTS, AND A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING ELONGATED RECTANGULAR EXHIBITING FRAME SECURED TO THE ENDS OF THE BAND AND SUPPORTED THEREBY IN OVERLYING RELATION TO SAID RECESS, SAID FRAME BEING OF SUFFICIENT WIDTH AND LENGTH TO EXPOSE A SINGLE PLAYER DESIGNATION AND THE SCORING SPACES ASSOCIATED THEREWITH OF A SCORE CARD, SAID BAND BEING MOVABLE TO VERTICALLY ADJUST THE POSITION OF THE EXHIBITING FRAME TO SELECTIVELY EXPOSE THE DIFFERENT PLAYER DESIGNATIONS WHILE THE BAND COVERS THE SCORING SPACES ASSOCIATED WITH THE OTHER PLAYER DESIGNATIONS. 